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Volume 17, # 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . February, 2002 |
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Volume 17, # 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . February, 2002 |
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Wisdom Seeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chinese proverb
"Great souls have wills,
feeble ones only have wishes."
Today’s Patience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . William Arthur Ward
"Today’s patience can transform yesterday’s discouragements into tomorrow’s discoveries. Today’s purposes can turn yesterday’s defeats into tomorrow’s determination."
Rooted in Courage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Words of Champions, p. 75"The will to do, the tenacity to overcome all obstacles and finish the course is rooted in courage."
Set Boundaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Allen
"We suffer the stress of infinite opportunity: There are so many things that we could do, and all we see are people who seem to be performing at star quality. It’s very hard not to try to be like them. The problem is, if you get wrapped up in that game, you’ll get eaten alive. You can do anything—but not everything. The universe is full of creative projects that are waiting to be done. So, if you really care about quality of life, if you want to relax, then…control your aspirations. That will simplify things. Learning to set boundaries is incredibly difficult for most people."
Develop Character . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Helen Keller
"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved."
The Aladdin Factor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Jack Canfield & Mark V. Hansen"Five Barriers to Asking Questions:
2. Limiting and Inaccurate Beliefs.…the limiting and negative beliefs that have been programmed into our sub-conscious and which silently control all our actions.
We are programmed by our parents…We are programmed at school. In school, if you ask the teacher for help, you are called a ‘brown-noser’ or a ‘teacher’s pet.’…We learn very quickly that it is not okay to ask a ‘stupid’ question.…You are told to do your own work."
Pseudo-Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M. Scott Peck
, A World Waiting To Be Born, p. 312"Pseudo-community occurs when a group reaches an apparently unanimous decision (and true consensus is not the same as unanimity) that has actually been subtly, or not so subtly, dictated by one or a few, where the issues have not been fully aired, and where other members do not feel they have been heard—indeed, where often they do not feel free to express their doubts or alternate ideas."
Great Art of Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . William James
"To improve the golden moment of opportunity, and catch the good that is within our reach, is the great art of life."
The Olympic Creed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baron Pierre de Coubertin
"The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well."
Olympic Motto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.S. Olympic Committee
The Olympic motto Citius, Altius, Fortius is Latin for "Faster, Higher, Braver," but is universally accepted to mean "Swifter, Higher, Stronger."
On Enthusiasm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. When you do a thing, do it with your might. Put your whole soul into it. Stamp it with your own personality. Be active, be energetic, be enthusiastic and faithful, and you will accomplish your object.
Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."
Lenten Lesson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brian Tracy, The Slight Edge Newsletter
"Issue a blanket pardon. Forgive everyone who has ever hurt you in any way. Forgiveness is a perfectly selfish act. It sets you free from the past."
Sunbeams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sy Sofransky, ed.
"Prayer is not the moment when God and humans are in relationship, of that is always. Prayer is taking initiative to intentionally respond to God’s presence." Anonymous
"Seek not to follow in the footsteps of men of old; seek instead what they sought."
Matsuo Basho
The Right Word . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark Twain
"The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug."
Happiness of Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Samuel Taylor Coleridge
"The happiness of life is made up of minute fractions–the little, soon forgotten charities of a kiss or a smile, a kind look, a heartfelt compliment–countless infinitesimals of pleasurable and genial feeling."
Tune-Up Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . James F. Colaianni, Sunday Sermon Masterpiece Collection, Vol. I, p. 129
During the life of any automobile, there are times when it needs to be serviced. We take it off the road and into a shop for a tune-up. A mechanic examines the car and then makes the adjustments necessary for it to function according to certain fixed standards.
The same is true in the life of a piano when it gets out of tune. We call a piano tuner. The tuner first strikes the U-shaped fork which is tuned to a standard international pitch. He tightens or loosens the A-string in the piano’s middle octave until the two sounds match. Then he proceeds with the work of adjusting each string to the standard pitch.
In the life of each of us, there are times when we need to take our self off the road, so to speak, for a spiritual tune-up; times when we need to adjust the pitch of our heart-strings to the eternal standard; times when we need to reshape our attitude and approach to life in a way that makes it possible for us to measure up to our true potential.
What is the eternal standard to which we must aspire in order to achieve wholeness of life? Everywhere there are clues! We find them in the lives of other persons. We find them at the deep levels of our own being. We find them in experiences of great joy and deep sorrow. We find them when we pray. We find them in literature and music and art and drama and work. Most importantly, we find them in the Word of God. And when it’s time to adjust the "heart-strings," when it’s tune-up time for the soul, we listen to the word of God in Holy Scripture for the eternal standard.
Quest for the Gold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fr. Brian Cavanaugh, TOR
Ever since watching the 1976 Summer Olympic Games I’ve thought that there should be a special gold medal presented to the Olympic athlete who displayed extraordinary courage during the summer or winter games.
The image that is seared into my memory is the face of the Japanese gymnast landing a triple somersault twist dismount from the rings. His face was scrunched in pain, yet Shun Fujimoto never moved an inch as he stuck his landing—even though he landed on a broken right knee. It was a display of extraordinary courage and garnered Japan the gold medal in team gymnastics.
Earlier in the competition, Fujimoto injured his knee during the floor exercise. As the team competition continued, it became clear that the gold medal would be decided on the rings apparatus—Fujimoto’s strongest event. Hobbling to the rings, he was hoisted to grab the rings where he performed a near-flawless routine. Then, as if holding their breath, everyone watching the games waited for the dismount, which he would have to stick perfectly to secure the team gold medal for Japan.
When Fujimoto left the rings it seemed as if the entire sequence proceeded in slow motion. He twisted and somersaulted through the air and stuck a perfect landing. His face registered the pain tearing through his broken right knee. Cheers erupted—for his heroic performance of courage earned Fujimoto and his teammates the Olympic gold medal.
Later interviewed about his extraordinary feat, Fujimoto said, "Yes, the pain shot through me like a knife. It brought tears to my eyes. But now I have a gold medal and the pain is gone."
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